Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Power to the People - Antonio Cruz, 59, pictured right, joined the Amalgamated Transit Union in rallying support for the fair pay of RTS employees outside city hall on Thursday . Soon thereafter, the AT Union voiced their concerns at the city commission meeting.

METRO

RTS workers continue the push for clear pay progression

By Erin Meisenzahl-Peace | June 9, 2014

Demonstrators gathered in the heat, fanning themselves with their picket signs.

METRO

Library invites artists to put words to canvas

By Camila Guillen | June 4, 2014

Good writers paint a picture with words. Now, the library wants to see those words come alive.

METRO

City commissioners' emails now available online without need for request

By Hannah Fell | June 4, 2014

A couple clicks in your Internet browser is all it takes to see what Gainesville’s city commissioners are up to.

Myrtle Belflower, 27, pick up books from  Grace Marketplace’s library on Wednesday. The homeless center opened Sunday and offers free meals twice a day. Several facilities are open to visitors.

METRO

New city-county homeless center to be one-stop hub for help

By Nicole Gomez | June 4, 2014

Grace Marketplace, Gainesville’s homeless services center, officially opened Sunday with goals of providing a space for homeless people to come together, eat and eventually have a place to stay overnight.

Alan Shapiro, president of Grandiflora nursery, cleans a rack of plants in one of the greenhouses on his 106-acre property. Grandiflora may be chosen to grow medical marijuana.

METRO

Local nursery could be tapped to grow medical marijuana

By Alex Harris | June 4, 2014

Alan Shapiro began his horticultural career cutting grass, and soon, he may be growing it.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested for allegedly aiming AK-47 at loud motorcycle driver

By Kyle Follansbee | June 4, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a man after he allegedly placed an AK-47 assault rifle to the forehead of a motorcyclist.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Bad batch of Spice hospitalizes 28 in Gainesville

By Emily Cardinali | June 2, 2014

A bad batch of Spice is believed to be the reason 28 people were hospitalized for seizures this weekend, leading to the raid of a local smoke shop and sending Gainesville residents reeling.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Local woman charged with drinking, driving and crashing

By Kyle Follansbee | June 2, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a woman early Monday for allegedly driving after taking medication, drinking three bottles of beer and failing a DUI test.

Flight Paramedic Jesse Blaire, 37, shows Snow Whitman, 6, and her brother Blaze, 5, the interior of Shands Hostpial's new EC-155 helicopter. The new model can travel 45 mph faster and can accommodate an extra patient and crew member, improving their capability to transport patients. ShandsCair held an open house on Saturday to celebrate the new addition.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF Health gains high-tech helicopter

By Jacqueline Adadi | June 2, 2014

UF Health Shands Hospital welcomed a swanky newcomer to its helicopter fleet this weekend.

Proprietors break ground on the new Sonny's Real Pit BBQ prototype that will be built on Archer Road, outside of the current Sonny’s on Friday.

METRO

First new-look Sonny’s to be built in Gainesville

By GRAHAM HACK | June 2, 2014

The new Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ on Archer Road broke ground on Friday to kick off the first of many rebuild projects for the restaurant’s new look across the country.

METRO

Bass Pro Shops to open location in Gainesville by 2016

By Ashley Iaccarino | June 2, 2014

Outdoor sports clubs at UF won’t have to shop online for supplies in the future because Bass Pro Shops is opening its 13th Florida store in Gainesville.

The extent of the damages to the building is currently being assessed, but the fire burned to both ends of the building

METRO

Residents displaced after severe weather causes fire at Paddock Club apartments

By Kyle Follansbee | May 30, 2014

Residents of The Paddock Club of Gainesville watched in shock Thursday afternoon as their apartment caught fire during a thunderstorm.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville woman arrested on fraud charges after exploiting her elderly grandmother

By Kyle Follansbee | May 28, 2014

Alachua County Sheriff’s officers arrested a Gainesville woman for trying to scam local banks and using her grandmother’s identity.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Online town hall provides new outlet for citizen comment

By Steven Katona | May 28, 2014

The City of Gainesville’s communications entered the 21st century last week with a new online forum called engageGNV.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Woman arrested with a medley of drugs, some found in her crotch

By Kyle Follansbee | May 28, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a local woman carrying a bag of meth and seven oxycodone pills after she tried to destroy 0.2 grams of crack cocaine in her pants.

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez listens to the prosecution's summary of facts as he is arraigned on homicide charges at Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Wednesday. Hernandez pleaded not guilty in the shooting deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. He already faces charges in the 2013 killing of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Allegations read in Hernandez double-murder case

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 28, 2014

Former Florida football player Aaron Hernandez pleaded not guilty on seven charges — including two counts of first-degree murder — during his arraignment Wednesday in a Boston courtroom.

The Alachua County Fire Rescue Station, located at 930 SE Fifth St., is now LEED-certified. It is the county's only certified green building and the first station to be certified in Florida.

METRO

Alachua County Fire Rescue seeks volunteers

By Patrick Pinak | May 26, 2014

Alachua County Fire Rescue’s Emergency Management Division is assembling a volunteer Fire Corps for the first time in its history.

METRO

UK robotic company to make US debut in Gainesville

By Taylor Junck | May 26, 2014

Out of all the cities in the U.S., a foreign startup company chose to open its first U.S. location in Gainesville’s Innovation Square, and a UF alumnus is heading the location.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man arrested with cocaine after attempting to flee police

By Kyle Follansbee | May 26, 2014

A Gainesville man was arrested after resisting arrest when police found cocaine in his pocket.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man arrested for fraudulent returns at J.C. Penney

By Kyle Follansbee | May 26, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a Lake City man for stealing shoes, pants and other items totaling $361.50.